Shorthand for 60 something

I'm 69 next month but anyone who dares to call me elderly will get a knuckle sandwich.

When my mother was in a nursing home, her dementia would often cause her to seriously believe she had bought the place!

I arrived one day to find her really happy that she'd been given the job of 'executive manager.' She told me all about how she would organise the staff and improve the catering, etc., etc. She finished off with, 'Not bad for 89, eh?'

When I pointed out she was 95, she said, 'I know that silly, but if I told them my age I wouldn't have got the job!'

Perhaps my memory is not what it was (ok, my memory is not what it was) but the expression "senior citizen" used to be bandied about quite happily - this implied the person was 60+ so far as I was concerned - I don't understand the need nowadays to be so specific about age, grandchildren etc.

At 68 I would accept being described as an older woman, but not as "being elderly"
or "being a senior".
A better term would be "a senior woman." so that people know that it is an actual person they are referring to, not just a demographic statistic.

Yep - I agree with you Nelliemoser gender specific is fine with me- but it might offend others - not sure how or why but it usually does nowadays

The hospital where my Dd is training as a medic has an age requirement of at least 85 years to be admitted to a geriatric ward. Even then, if you're spritely, you won't be admitted.

Having said which, most wards do have mainly older folk in them because that's the nature of life - the older we get, the poorer our health can get. When I spent ten days on an orthopaedic ward with a fractured leg, I was the youngest by miles, at 59! The lady next to me was 93 and so feisty, she was lovely.

Yup I remember 30 years ago someone telling me that most of the surgery that is carried out is on those over 70. At the heart of this issue is agism I guess, because whatever term people come up with it acquires negative connotations in our own minds and those of others. We don't live in a society that values and respects age and experience. This despite the fact that we are the backbone of many voluntary organisations.

Why do newspapers need to mention your age at all? I really don't think it is necessary most of the time

The state pension used to be referred to as "old age pension" and it used to be paid to women at 60 and men at 65. Now it has gone up, in my case I won't get my pension until I'm 66. Since I'm still working to support myself and paying taxes and NI like everyone else I don't wish to be described as old. I'm a working age adult as far as I'm concerned, until I eventually retire. I quite like Senior as a term, if there needs to be one.

In NZ, the Maori driver of a small tourist bus referred to me and my sister as 'elder ladies' which we took as a compliment, since it's an honorific description in NZ native culture. It seemed to us to be a world of difference from 'elderly ladies'. Unfortunately it isn't a title that would travel to our society where age does not confer status.

When I was a kid, people over retirement age could expect to live for another 10-15 years or thereabouts; now we are relatively young and I can reasonably expect to live well into my 80s (MIL in mid 80s still drives, looks about 50 (just starting to go grey!) and is very active). So difficult to judge. Like "vintage" but personally prefer "mature". Tease local supermarket because they don't ask me to prove my age!

Middle age, elderly, senior, whatever... it's should always be at least 10 years older than your age of the moment.

I think that caring about being referred to as old or older or a gran or whatever is ageist. It assumes that the terms are used negatively when, most of the time, they aren't. Media can, and often does, give wrong impressions. I don't think most people are negative about old (whatever old means) people.

I like the term "twirlies", for those with bus passes that start at 9:30 trying to catch a bus at 09:00......"am I too early for this one?"

Ha ha, Lewlew. My attitude precisely.

Well the road signs for 'Beware elderly crossing the road 'show two stooped stick figures with sticks ..says it all about the negative connotations of elderly .
I am 65 and constantly have to remind my daughters (had them late in life) that I am officially an Old Person.As I have been recently helping both move house ,in the case if DD1 this has included emptying the cellar of her new flat with about 15 years worth of rubbish and taking it and the concrete from the garden (chipped out by my 65 year old DH) to the tip (55 sacks so far) perhaps it's not surprising they see us as (relatively)young and healthy? Though we cannot keep up with them on our hill/cliff walks any longer we still enjoy family holidays while they climb mountains and we do hills.....They would be horrified to hear us described as elderley

My mother used to do a lot for her church. One day two teenagers came to the house and asked her to come to a coffee morning for OAPs. Mum said she would, and asked what job they wanted her to do, i.e. making coffee, sandwiches etc., or serving, or washing up. They said "no, you are one of the guests". At 60, mum was horrified to be lumped in with the oldies!

Of course we are elderly to other people, just not ourselves. One conversation with n power offering to babysit you if a power cut is scheduled is quite enough to make you feel ancient, never mind elderly. It took me a while to get their gist, but of course I told them my toy boy would look after me in the event of a power cut, and went back to haranguing them about the lack of billing.

I feel young in spirit but I'm trapped in a rapidly ageing body. However, I'm not above using the age card to my advantage. If people are generous enough to help me with my disabilities I'm happy to accept. Age is a largely a state of mind but onlookers make their own assumptions.

I have recently heard the term Gimmer used several times.
According to the Grandchildren it's short for Old Git with a Zimmer frame.
Nice eh ???

My late grand mother, when she was 90, was horrified when I suggested I borrow a wheel chair for a days excursion for her to ride in. She said, people would think she was old. ..........

I'm a woman, if anything.

Mature?

I quite like the American 'Seniors'. When used over there, it doesn't just label an age group, it's a term of respect. Seniors are given all sorts of perks, on the basis that they have worked and a long time, gained much life experience and deserve it. We don't value our elderly people in the UK. When they need care and support, only poor quality, inadequate care and support are provided.

I despise the obsession the press has with reporting a person's age. If someone is interviewed on the street as an eye witness to an incident, for example, what difference does it make to their statement that the bus crashed into a tree if they are 27 or 67?

I was amazed to find that this year's birthday put me on the extreme limit of 'late middle age' at 64. Next year I will be officially classed as elderly. We are continually being shoehorned into arbitrary pigeonholes! I'm a practising 4th dan (black belt) in Shotokan karate. I don't fit the common perception of elderly. If I could figure out how to post a photo on here from my kindle fire, I'd show you. But it's not you that need convincing.

It's the horribly patronising attitude towards older people that annoys me the most. I wouldn't necessarily conceal my age but, in karate, I hate the idea of becoming invisible or patronized (with mock shock) as 'not bad for her age' and then ignored because of my number. If I were unable to carry out a task due to physical problems, I'd need help for that reason, not because of my age. Plenty of younger people have physical problems or injuries.

OK! Rant over ?

DeeWBW, sometimes!

Most of us don't fit the common perception of what people of our age should be like. I'm still awaiting my rocking chair, shawl and granny perm.

Anyway, I've just made an appointment for someone aged 106 so I'm a mere stripling!!